Future traffic tickets in Gwinnett may come with technology fee

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga - Gwinnett County commissioners want to tack a $10 technology fee to traffic tickets and other misdemeanor violations to pay for a more efficient way of nailing violators.

Wade Hackett has gotten his fair share of tickets. He doesn't like it.

"The fees are already high enough," said Hackett. "I don't think we need any more fees, but I know they want to do it to generate revenue."

Gwinnett police will soon have handheld electronic devices that will replace the old paper ticket books. The devices will allow officers to scan a violator's driver's license and electronically send the information into a data base.

The system cost 1.1 million taxpayer dollars, collected from a Special Local Option Sales Tax.

County commissioners have asked their legislative delegation to approve the $10 technology fee that would be added to a long list of misdemeanor violations, from speeding tickets to operating a business without a license.

The cost of maintaining the system is estimated at $939,000 a year. The technology fee is expected to generate about $1.4 million a year.

The county believes it only makes sense to have the people who generate the tickets pay for the system.

"It's like Chairman Nash said Tuesday night, if you don't get a ticket, you don't pay," said Lee.

Taxpayer Randy Yates said technology should save the county money.

"Why should they improve their technology, then bill me?" said Yates. "It should save money, not cost me money."